Best small automatic cars in the UK
High-quality small automatic cars from rated and reviewed dealers
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Best small automatic cars of 2026
Time was, buying a small automatic car meant settling for something desperately slow, unreasonably thirsty and quite expensive. Not any more - the best small automatic cars nowadays have slick, quick-shifting gearboxes every bit as good as those fitted to their larger, more expensive counterparts.
And as small cars in general become more upmarket, automatic models benefit from the same posh interiors and extensive equipment lists. Not to mention, they’re becoming more common - many small cars are now auto-only or offer it across the range instead of limiting it to a specific trim level. And there’s always EVs, which may not have a conventional gearbox but operate just like an automatic car.
Whether you want something stylish like a Mini Cooper, super-efficient like a Toyota Aygo X or cost-effective like a Chery Tiggo 4, this list of the best small automatic cars is where you’ll find it. Our expert reviews team has tested every small car on sale in real-world conditions so can recommend these automatic cars with gusto.
Best for: value
The Chery Tiggo 4 is one of the cheapest hybrid SUVs you can buy, and it's so generously equipped and spacious for the money that it makes plenty of small hatchbacks look expensive. Price start from just under £20,000, which is only a little more than an MG3 and thousands less than most similarly-sized hybrid SUVs.
There's no bargain-basement engine or gearbox at that price, either. Every Tiggo 4 gets Chery’s 204hp hybrid system and an automatic transmission, with the electric motor doing much of the work while the 1.5-litre petrol engine frequently acts as a generator. That means it feels smooth and responsive around town, with none of the clutch juggling or jerky low-speed changes you can get from some small automatic cars.
It’s roomy, too. There’s plenty of space in the front and enough legroom and headroom in the back for tall adults to sit comfortably. The 430-litre boot is bigger than the ones in the Toyota Yaris Cross and Volkswagen T-Cross, although there’s an annoying hump in the boot floor which makes loading large, flat items more awkward than it should be.
Standard equipment is another big part of the appeal. Even the cheapest Aspire gets LED lights, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, wireless smartphone connectivity and two 12.3-inch displays. You can spend considerably more elsewhere and still end up ticking options boxes.
The Tiggo 4 isn’t perfect. Its steering is vague, and despite being a hybrid it’s not especially economical. Chery claims 53.2mpg, while testing returned around 48mpg. A Toyota Yaris Cross can comfortably top 60mpg in similar real-world use, so drivers covering lots of miles may claw back some of its higher purchase price through lower fuel bills.
But judged as an affordable automatic family car, the Tiggo 4 is extremely difficult to argue with. It’s smooth, spacious, well equipped and astonishingly cheap for what you get.
The Chery Tiggo 4 is one of the cheapest hybrid SUVs you can buy, and it's so generously equipped and spacious for the money that it makes plenty of small hatchbacks look expensive. Price start from just under £20,000, which is only a little more than an MG3 and thousands less than most similarly-sized hybrid SUVs.
There's no bargain-basement engine or gearbox at that price, either. Every Tiggo 4 gets Chery’s 204hp hybrid system and an automatic transmission, with the electric motor doing much of the work while the 1.5-litre petrol engine frequently acts as a generator. That means it feels smooth and responsive around town, with none of the clutch juggling or jerky low-speed changes you can get from some small automatic cars.
It’s roomy, too. There’s plenty of space in the front and enough legroom and headroom in the back for tall adults to sit comfortably. The 430-litre boot is bigger than the ones in the Toyota Yaris Cross and Volkswagen T-Cross, although there’s an annoying hump in the boot floor which makes loading large, flat items more awkward than it should be.
Standard equipment is another big part of the appeal. Even the cheapest Aspire gets LED lights, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, wireless smartphone connectivity and two 12.3-inch displays. You can spend considerably more elsewhere and still end up ticking options boxes.
The Tiggo 4 isn’t perfect. Its steering is vague, and despite being a hybrid it’s not especially economical. Chery claims 53.2mpg, while testing returned around 48mpg. A Toyota Yaris Cross can comfortably top 60mpg in similar real-world use, so drivers covering lots of miles may claw back some of its higher purchase price through lower fuel bills.
But judged as an affordable automatic family car, the Tiggo 4 is extremely difficult to argue with. It’s smooth, spacious, well equipped and astonishingly cheap for what you get.
2. Toyota Yaris Cross
Toyota Yaris Cross review
Best for: a hybrid all-rounder
The Toyota Yaris Cross is, in a lot of ways, like a Chery Tiggo 4 that’s been improved in almost every area. It’s nicer to drive, more economical, better made, more polished inside and has a stronger reputation for reliability. The catch is that it ought to be better, because it costs considerably more.
Underneath, the Yaris Cross uses the same basic hybrid ingredients as the regular Toyota Yaris, pairing a petrol engine with electric assistance and a CVT automatic gearbox. It’s a very good combination for everyday driving: smooth around town, responsive enough when pulling away and capable of more than 60mpg in the real world. The gearbox is much improved over older Toyota CVTs too, so the engine doesn’t flare its revs and drone quite as much when you accelerate hard.
The Yaris Cross also fixes some of the regular Yaris hatchback’s shortcomings. There’s more room in the back, a useful 400-litre boot and a slightly raised driving position, while the compact dimensions mean it’s still easy to thread through traffic and park. It’s good fun on a twisty road too, with accurate steering and tidy handling.
It even looks quite smart, although the sporty GR Sport version is arguably trying a bit too hard. It’s a bit like putting a kitten in a Batman costume.
If value matters most, the Tiggo 4 makes more sense. But if you can afford the extra, the Yaris Cross is the more complete small automatic car.
The Toyota Yaris Cross is, in a lot of ways, like a Chery Tiggo 4 that’s been improved in almost every area. It’s nicer to drive, more economical, better made, more polished inside and has a stronger reputation for reliability. The catch is that it ought to be better, because it costs considerably more.
Underneath, the Yaris Cross uses the same basic hybrid ingredients as the regular Toyota Yaris, pairing a petrol engine with electric assistance and a CVT automatic gearbox. It’s a very good combination for everyday driving: smooth around town, responsive enough when pulling away and capable of more than 60mpg in the real world. The gearbox is much improved over older Toyota CVTs too, so the engine doesn’t flare its revs and drone quite as much when you accelerate hard.
The Yaris Cross also fixes some of the regular Yaris hatchback’s shortcomings. There’s more room in the back, a useful 400-litre boot and a slightly raised driving position, while the compact dimensions mean it’s still easy to thread through traffic and park. It’s good fun on a twisty road too, with accurate steering and tidy handling.
It even looks quite smart, although the sporty GR Sport version is arguably trying a bit too hard. It’s a bit like putting a kitten in a Batman costume.
If value matters most, the Tiggo 4 makes more sense. But if you can afford the extra, the Yaris Cross is the more complete small automatic car.
2026
Urban Living Award
Winner
Battery range up to 252 miles
Best for: electric excitement
The new Renault 5 E-Tech is our favourite small electric car on sale at the moment, outright. It’s so much fun to drive while still feeling grown up, practical enough and easy to live with that it won the Urban Living segment of the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
It might be leaning incredibly hard on the nostalgia button, but it’s a button we’re quite happy to have pressed. Those oh-so-eighties looks have been cleverly updated for the 21st century, and it’s easily one of the best-looking new cars around thanks to its slender headlights, flared wheel arches, stacked taillights and plethora of retro touches.
That’s true of the cabin too, with some delightful retro touches on the dashboard and funky trim on the seats. What’s less delightful are the profusion of column stalks (three on one side — gear shifter, wipers, stereo controls) and a slightly squashy look to the 10.0-inch touchscreen.
There’s a surprising amount of space up front for such a small car thanks in part to its stepped-back dashboard design, but back seat passengers will struggle on anything more than a short journey. The 326-litre boot is on par with alternatives, though.
Renault claims a range of 252 miles in bigger battery versions of the 5, while entry-level models make do with a more modest 190 miles to a charge. Never mind the range, though, concentrate instead on the cool touches, such as the illuminated number 5 on the bonnet that tells you how much charge is in the battery, to the baguette holder that clips onto the dashboard.
It’s zippy, engaging, and properly good fun to drive, whether in town or on a country lane. It may not quite be powerful enough to qualify it as a hot hatch, yet it’s more enjoyable to drive than lots of supposedly sportier cars. It's a bit noisier on the motorway than some of its alternatives, that being said.
The new Renault 5 E-Tech is our favourite small electric car on sale at the moment, outright. It’s so much fun to drive while still feeling grown up, practical enough and easy to live with that it won the Urban Living segment of the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
It might be leaning incredibly hard on the nostalgia button, but it’s a button we’re quite happy to have pressed. Those oh-so-eighties looks have been cleverly updated for the 21st century, and it’s easily one of the best-looking new cars around thanks to its slender headlights, flared wheel arches, stacked taillights and plethora of retro touches.
That’s true of the cabin too, with some delightful retro touches on the dashboard and funky trim on the seats. What’s less delightful are the profusion of column stalks (three on one side — gear shifter, wipers, stereo controls) and a slightly squashy look to the 10.0-inch touchscreen.
There’s a surprising amount of space up front for such a small car thanks in part to its stepped-back dashboard design, but back seat passengers will struggle on anything more than a short journey. The 326-litre boot is on par with alternatives, though.
Renault claims a range of 252 miles in bigger battery versions of the 5, while entry-level models make do with a more modest 190 miles to a charge. Never mind the range, though, concentrate instead on the cool touches, such as the illuminated number 5 on the bonnet that tells you how much charge is in the battery, to the baguette holder that clips onto the dashboard.
It’s zippy, engaging, and properly good fun to drive, whether in town or on a country lane. It may not quite be powerful enough to qualify it as a hot hatch, yet it’s more enjoyable to drive than lots of supposedly sportier cars. It's a bit noisier on the motorway than some of its alternatives, that being said.
4. Toyota Aygo X
Toyota Aygo X review
Best for: amazing economy
The Aygo X started life as a decent enough city car with a pretty rubbish 1.0-litre petrol engine. But the latest model underwent a remarkable transformation when Toyota decided to fit its 1.5-litre hybrid under the bonnet - making it the most efficient car we’ve ever tested.
Officially, the Aygo X hybrid can return up to 76.4mpg, but we’ve had over 90mpg out of it in real-world driving before. That’s the sort of figure that makes you question if a plug-in car is even worth it. It is, after all, the same engine as you get in the already super-efficient Yaris and Yaris Cross, but in a much smaller and lighter car.
Of course, that does result in compromises elsewhere. The Aygo X has a teeny-tiny backseat accessed through teeny-tiny doors - even very short people will find it cramped and claustrophobic, not helped by the rear windows which only pop out rather than roll down. The boot is small too, and because of that complex engine the price tag feels quite high considering this is still a cheaply-appointed city car. But if purchase price is easily outweighed for you by day-to-day running costs, this is an unbeatable small automatic.
The Aygo X started life as a decent enough city car with a pretty rubbish 1.0-litre petrol engine. But the latest model underwent a remarkable transformation when Toyota decided to fit its 1.5-litre hybrid under the bonnet - making it the most efficient car we’ve ever tested.
Officially, the Aygo X hybrid can return up to 76.4mpg, but we’ve had over 90mpg out of it in real-world driving before. That’s the sort of figure that makes you question if a plug-in car is even worth it. It is, after all, the same engine as you get in the already super-efficient Yaris and Yaris Cross, but in a much smaller and lighter car.
Of course, that does result in compromises elsewhere. The Aygo X has a teeny-tiny backseat accessed through teeny-tiny doors - even very short people will find it cramped and claustrophobic, not helped by the rear windows which only pop out rather than roll down. The boot is small too, and because of that complex engine the price tag feels quite high considering this is still a cheaply-appointed city car. But if purchase price is easily outweighed for you by day-to-day running costs, this is an unbeatable small automatic.
5. Renault Clio
Renault Clio review
Best for: style, with some driving fun
If you want an automatic gearbox for your Clio, then you’re going to have to get the 145hp E-Tech hybrid engine. That means spending an extra £3,000 or so compared to the three-cylinder turbo petrol version, with its six-speed manual gearbox, but there are a number of benefits if you do, and we don’t just mean that you don’t have to use your left leg.
The hybrid Clio is more powerful than the petrol-only version, and potentially much more economical, especially if most of your driving is around town where the Clio Hybrid can flex its electric muscles. You can pretty easily squeeze 60mpg, sometimes even better, out of this Clio. It’s also a fun car to drive, even if it’s not quite as sparkling from behind the wheel as the now-departed Ford Fiesta. The cabin looks and feels classy, and the Clio is just as comfy and smooth as any good French car should be. Rear seat space is a bit tight, but the boot is pretty big for a car in this class, so it’s practical (even if the load lip is a bit high for heavy items). The only oddity, really, is the car’s reason for existence on this list — its automatic gearbox.
Rather than going with a conventional automatic, or a CVT as Toyota uses, Renault went for something in between. It’s actually a four-speed automatic, but because there are two — yes, two — electric motors built into it, it effectively has many more ratios. That’s great for fuel economy, but it does mean that the Clio Hybrid occasionally sounds weird, as if the engine and gearbox aren’t quite in sync with one another. You do get used to it, though, not least when you come to fill up with petrol again… Basic Evolution versions of the Clio are fairly well-equipped, and you even get nice alloy wheels. You’ll want to upgrade to the more premium-look ‘Esprit Alpine’ version, but do your sums and make sure that the extra equipment is really worth it to you.
If you want an automatic gearbox for your Clio, then you’re going to have to get the 145hp E-Tech hybrid engine. That means spending an extra £3,000 or so compared to the three-cylinder turbo petrol version, with its six-speed manual gearbox, but there are a number of benefits if you do, and we don’t just mean that you don’t have to use your left leg.
The hybrid Clio is more powerful than the petrol-only version, and potentially much more economical, especially if most of your driving is around town where the Clio Hybrid can flex its electric muscles. You can pretty easily squeeze 60mpg, sometimes even better, out of this Clio. It’s also a fun car to drive, even if it’s not quite as sparkling from behind the wheel as the now-departed Ford Fiesta. The cabin looks and feels classy, and the Clio is just as comfy and smooth as any good French car should be. Rear seat space is a bit tight, but the boot is pretty big for a car in this class, so it’s practical (even if the load lip is a bit high for heavy items). The only oddity, really, is the car’s reason for existence on this list — its automatic gearbox.
Rather than going with a conventional automatic, or a CVT as Toyota uses, Renault went for something in between. It’s actually a four-speed automatic, but because there are two — yes, two — electric motors built into it, it effectively has many more ratios. That’s great for fuel economy, but it does mean that the Clio Hybrid occasionally sounds weird, as if the engine and gearbox aren’t quite in sync with one another. You do get used to it, though, not least when you come to fill up with petrol again… Basic Evolution versions of the Clio are fairly well-equipped, and you even get nice alloy wheels. You’ll want to upgrade to the more premium-look ‘Esprit Alpine’ version, but do your sums and make sure that the extra equipment is really worth it to you.
Best for: luxury
The Lexus LBX is closely related to the Toyota Yaris Cross, but it feels considerably posher. It uses a similar 1.5-litre hybrid setup with a CVT automatic gearbox, yet extra sound deadening and a softer, more polished driving experience make the LBX quieter and more relaxing around town.
The hybrid system is particularly well suited to urban driving, where the electric motor gives it smooth, responsive acceleration and the petrol engine cuts in unobtrusively. It’s economical, too, with official figures of up to 62.7mpg, although it can sound strained if you accelerate hard.
Inside, the LBX feels properly luxurious, with excellent materials, solid build quality and a much more upmarket atmosphere than most small SUVs.
The downside is practicality. Rear-seat space is tight and some versions have a fairly small boot, while prices start at around £30,000. But if you want a small automatic that feels genuinely premium, the LBX is one of the best around.
The Lexus LBX is closely related to the Toyota Yaris Cross, but it feels considerably posher. It uses a similar 1.5-litre hybrid setup with a CVT automatic gearbox, yet extra sound deadening and a softer, more polished driving experience make the LBX quieter and more relaxing around town.
The hybrid system is particularly well suited to urban driving, where the electric motor gives it smooth, responsive acceleration and the petrol engine cuts in unobtrusively. It’s economical, too, with official figures of up to 62.7mpg, although it can sound strained if you accelerate hard.
Inside, the LBX feels properly luxurious, with excellent materials, solid build quality and a much more upmarket atmosphere than most small SUVs.
The downside is practicality. Rear-seat space is tight and some versions have a fairly small boot, while prices start at around £30,000. But if you want a small automatic that feels genuinely premium, the LBX is one of the best around.
Best for: practicality
The Honda Jazz has never been the coolest small car around, but if you care more about practicality, comfort and ease of use than looking fashionable, it’s brilliant.
Every Jazz comes with a hybrid system and an automatic gearbox, and it suits the car perfectly. Around town, the electric motor does much of the work, so acceleration is smooth and quiet, while the petrol engine cuts in when needed. It’s also very economical, and the whole setup makes the Jazz particularly relaxing in stop-start traffic.
Its real party trick is space. The tall body means there’s loads of headroom, while Honda’s clever Magic Seats can flip their bases upwards or fold almost completely flat, making it ridiculously versatile for such a small car.
It’s not especially cheap, and the styling won’t appeal to everyone, but few small automatics are as sensible, spacious or easy to live with.
The Honda Jazz has never been the coolest small car around, but if you care more about practicality, comfort and ease of use than looking fashionable, it’s brilliant.
Every Jazz comes with a hybrid system and an automatic gearbox, and it suits the car perfectly. Around town, the electric motor does much of the work, so acceleration is smooth and quiet, while the petrol engine cuts in when needed. It’s also very economical, and the whole setup makes the Jazz particularly relaxing in stop-start traffic.
Its real party trick is space. The tall body means there’s loads of headroom, while Honda’s clever Magic Seats can flip their bases upwards or fold almost completely flat, making it ridiculously versatile for such a small car.
It’s not especially cheap, and the styling won’t appeal to everyone, but few small automatics are as sensible, spacious or easy to live with.
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Battery range up to 276 miles
Best for: fun
Electric cars are automatic by default, but the Cupra Raval deserves its place here because it’s also one of the most entertaining small cars around. It has sharp steering, loads of grip and a much sportier feel than the Renault 5, while the instant response from its electric motor makes it brilliant for darting through town.
It’s surprisingly practical, too. There’s loads of passenger space for something only just over four metres long, plus a huge 441-litre boot. Depending on the version, official range stretches from around 200 to 276 miles, so the bigger-battery Raval is perfectly usable beyond the city.
The ride is quite firm and the touch-sensitive climate controls are annoying, but the Raval makes up for that with funky styling, a great interior and genuinely enjoyable handling. Few small automatics are this much fun.
Electric cars are automatic by default, but the Cupra Raval deserves its place here because it’s also one of the most entertaining small cars around. It has sharp steering, loads of grip and a much sportier feel than the Renault 5, while the instant response from its electric motor makes it brilliant for darting through town.
It’s surprisingly practical, too. There’s loads of passenger space for something only just over four metres long, plus a huge 441-litre boot. Depending on the version, official range stretches from around 200 to 276 miles, so the bigger-battery Raval is perfectly usable beyond the city.
The ride is quite firm and the touch-sensitive climate controls are annoying, but the Raval makes up for that with funky styling, a great interior and genuinely enjoyable handling. Few small automatics are this much fun.
9. Mini Cooper
MINI Cooper review
Best for: personality
Few small cars have as much character as the Mini Cooper. Its circular central touchscreen, quirky interior and instantly recognisable styling make it feel much more special than most small hatchbacks, while its tiny dimensions make squeezing through traffic and into parking spaces incredibly easy.
Every petrol Mini Cooper comes with an automatic gearbox, so there’s no manual option to worry about. It’s generally smooth and well behaved around town, although it can hesitate slightly if you suddenly ask for a burst of acceleration at a junction or roundabout.
There’s plenty of performance, the steering is quick and the Mini still feels more playful than most small cars, even if this generation isn’t quite as engaging as its predecessors. The trade-off is practicality: the three-door model has cramped rear seats and a tiny boot.
If you want your small automatic to feel expensive, distinctive and fun rather than purely sensible, the Mini is still difficult to beat.
Few small cars have as much character as the Mini Cooper. Its circular central touchscreen, quirky interior and instantly recognisable styling make it feel much more special than most small hatchbacks, while its tiny dimensions make squeezing through traffic and into parking spaces incredibly easy.
Every petrol Mini Cooper comes with an automatic gearbox, so there’s no manual option to worry about. It’s generally smooth and well behaved around town, although it can hesitate slightly if you suddenly ask for a burst of acceleration at a junction or roundabout.
There’s plenty of performance, the steering is quick and the Mini still feels more playful than most small cars, even if this generation isn’t quite as engaging as its predecessors. The trade-off is practicality: the three-door model has cramped rear seats and a tiny boot.
If you want your small automatic to feel expensive, distinctive and fun rather than purely sensible, the Mini is still difficult to beat.
Best for: affordable hybrid power
The MG3 Hybrid+ proves that choosing a cheap automatic doesn’t have to mean settling for something slow. Its 194hp hybrid system gives it considerably more power than most small cars at this price, and it’s quick enough to feel almost like a warm hatch when you put your foot down.
Most of the time the powerful electric motor does the hard work, which makes the MG3 smooth and responsive around town. Accelerate hard, though, and the unusual three-speed gearbox can feel clunky, with noticeable pauses while it changes gear.
It’s also genuinely good fun on a twisting road, with plenty of grip and keen handling, while standard equipment is generous for the money. The interior feels cheap in places and real-world economy of around 50-54mpg trails the Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio hybrids.
Even so, few automatic small cars offer this much performance, equipment and entertainment for so little money.
The MG3 Hybrid+ proves that choosing a cheap automatic doesn’t have to mean settling for something slow. Its 194hp hybrid system gives it considerably more power than most small cars at this price, and it’s quick enough to feel almost like a warm hatch when you put your foot down.
Most of the time the powerful electric motor does the hard work, which makes the MG3 smooth and responsive around town. Accelerate hard, though, and the unusual three-speed gearbox can feel clunky, with noticeable pauses while it changes gear.
It’s also genuinely good fun on a twisting road, with plenty of grip and keen handling, while standard equipment is generous for the money. The interior feels cheap in places and real-world economy of around 50-54mpg trails the Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio hybrids.
Even so, few automatic small cars offer this much performance, equipment and entertainment for so little money.
Factors to consider when choosing a small automatic car
Do you really need an automatic?
Unless you don’t have the option of a manual gearbox, automatics in small cars still tend to be a fairly expensive option to tick, often to the tune of a couple of thousand pounds. It might be worth it if you spend a lot of time in stop-start traffic, though.
Petrol, hybrid or electric?
If you’ve got access to cheap home or work charging, a small electric car is a no brainer, really. For urban commuting the instant shove and silent operation of an electric car can’t be beaten, but if you venture onto the motorway frequently then you’ll find a petrol or hybrid car cheaper to run.
How small is too small?
Just because a brand says a car can carry four adults, doesn’t mean that it can do so comfortably. As much as we love the Renault 5, we wouldn't want to subject adults to anything more than a short stint in the back - if they can even fit. A Toyota Yaris Cross offers far more back seat space, but then again it barely counts as a small car by comparison.
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